Bail, ankle tracker for Jake Brian Brown, 28, accused of bloody jetty bashing
A man accused of punching an elderly man, breaking his jaw, knocking out his dentures and ripping open his cheek in an alleged unprovoked assault in South East Queensland has been granted bail.
A man accused of punching an elderly man, breaking his jaw, knocking out his dentures and ripping open his cheek in an alleged unprovoked assault at a South East Queensland ferry terminal will be released on bail on Friday with an electronic ankle monitor.
Jake Brian Brown, 28, who has been in custody since the jetty incident in April, faces seven charges including serious assault of a person over 60, obstructing police, driving over the general alcohol limit, breach of bail, and driving without a licence.
Brown has not entered any pleas and the matter remains before the court.
His bail application was part-heard on Thursday in Cleveland Magistrates Court where Brown’s lawyer, Abdul Rashidi, told the court his client had been waiting since May for progress on his matters and had written to court liaison staff for updates.
Affidavits from Mr Rashidi and from Brown’s mother were tendered in support of bail, which was opposed by police prosecutors.
Lamb Island resident Frank Mawson sat motionless as graphic photos of his bloodied face were shown in open court, the images taken after he was allegedly struck at the Russell Island jetty on April 6.
He brought a bag of cracked dentures he said were shattered in the attack.
Mr Mawson told the court he was still waiting for surgery to insert new teeth in his bottom jaw and had been forced to delay the procedure until his injuries healed.
Magistrate Deborah Vasta adjourned the matter until Brown was brought from Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre to Cleveland Watchhouse to be fitted with an ankle-tracking device for release on Friday under strict supervision.
“Tomorrow, he will be released on bail with ... conditions … but I feel it’s time we need to help him in the community, as opposed to just keep locking people up,” Magistrate Vasta said.
She acknowledged the seriousness of the alleged attack and spoke directly to Mr Mawson.
She told Mr Mawson that although jail protects the community temporarily, Brown would eventually be released, and an electronic ankle monitor would track his movements in real time.
“I am aware of the injuries you’ve suffered and I understand that you’ve been to court almost every single (hearing) time because you’re waiting to see justice done,” she said.
“I think in the past, we might have explained to you that the charge is so serious that the district court might have to take it over.”
Magistrate Vasta said Brown had been on remand for a significant time but was only 28 years old and had mental health issues after a disadvantaged childhood.
Under the bail conditions, Brown will be fitted with an ankle tracking device and must not leave a 8km radius of his address, barring him returning to the southern Moreton Bay islands.
He must also adhere to a 6pm to 6am curfew, attend mental health treatment, take prescribed medication and report to police once a week.
He was remanded in custody awaiting his appearance on Friday, when he will be brought from Arthur Gorrie prison to the Cleveland watch house where he will have the two-hour procedure to strap on the ankle monitor before appearing via video link in Cleveland Magistrates court.
His matter was adjourned until January.
